5 Expert Diet Tips For The Healthy Bride
Finding it hard to curb those sugary cravings? Well, it's high time you get your bridal diet plan in place.
The frantic and last-moment wedding errands can really starve your body of its required nourishment and hydration. Pre-wedding jitters, the hustle-bustle, take a toll on your body such, that you aren’t necessarily aware about. While dieting and weight loss may be on the forefront of your agenda list, take a moment to go over your body’s real requirements. Dr Shikha Sharma - Nutri-Health Systems Pvt. Ltd, Harshita Dilawri - Nutritionist and Diabetic Educator and Ambika Tyagi - Nutritionist Healthy Souls urge you to re-consider your ‘I am going to starve myself till the wedding’ plans and opt for a healthier route instead.
Getting the right diet plan in place must happen at least 3-4 months prior to the wedding, so that the body adapts to it and bears positive results. Pro tip: Go for a wholesome, healthy and nutritious diet instead of a low-calorie diet to achieve desired results.
GO FOR WHOLE GRAINS
Try incorporating whole grains in your daily diet, for at least one meal. Oats, rye, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, barley or multigrain flour must ideally be consumed for lunch. Opt for brown rice and multigrain bread, as an alternative to white rice and white/brown bread. While brown bread may seem like a healthy option as well, bear in mind that it is often white bread with added brown colour. These whole grains are high in fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, along with serving several added benefits for a healthy heart and digestive system. Moreover, if you’re looking to cut down on those calories, there is no way better!
EAT YOUR VITAMINS AND MINERALS
The family of cruciferous vegetables must be a go-to for the healthy bride. Veggies such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, lettuce, artichokes, asparagus, beans, green and red peppers, okra, onions, peas, pumpkin, mushrooms, bottle gourd, snake gourd, spring onions etc. give you your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Similarly, cherries, grapefruit, apricot, pear, apple, oranges, plums, peaches, strawberries, guava, papaya etc. are a few fruits that will give your body the right amount of roughage and fibre it requires. Want an optimal functioning digestive system? Well, this is how.
CURB THOSE CRAVINGS
Suffering with constant cravings? We feel you. Consumption of lean proteins such as fish, chickpeas, eggs, tofu, soya, legumes etc. are a good idea as they tend to make one feel full for longer periods of time. For the times when you want to snack, go for healthier options including unsalted almonds and cashew nuts. These days restaurants offer a wide range of healthy options too, so eating out is no longer an excuse to get off track!
DRINK UP
Another rule of thumb, remember to keep yourself hydrated! You must drink approximately 3-4 litres of water daily, to aid the bodily process of the flushing out the unwanted toxins. Besides all that, water always does well for clear skin and weight loss too!
FOLLOW THE AM/PM RULE
The first thing you must consume within 5-10 minutes of waking up should be fruit, after which you can go ahead with your diet as planned. Mixing fruits with other meals often leads to indigestion and bloating. Similarly, it is advisable that you eat dinner at least 2 hours before you hit the bed. Digestion and metabolism is likely to be slower closer to bed time.